ABSTRACT
Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is reported to be a risk
factor for drug hypersensitivity. However, there is conflicting data
about true prevalence of drug allergy in children with CF.
Methods: The suspicious drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR)
of children with CF were enquired by European Network for Drug Allergy
(ENDA) questionnaire and skin tests and/or drug provocation tests were
performed according to established guidelines.
Results: Two hundred and nineteen children (48.9% boys; median
[IQR] age, 8.4 years [4.8-12.4 years]) with cystic fibrosis were
included in the study, from whom 22 patients with 24 suspected DHRs were
evaluated. Most of the suspected DHRs were non-immediate (n=16, 66.6%)
type and the offending drugs were amoxicillin clavulanic acid (n=7),
macrolides (n=4), trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (n=2),
piperacillin tazobactam (n=1), pancrelipase (n=1) and ursodeoxycholic
acid (n=1). Eight (33.3%) of the DHRs were classified as immediate
[ceftriaxone (n=2), ceftazidim (n=2), meropenem (n=1), ambisome (n=2),
vancomycin (n=1)]. The main presenting clinical presentations were
maculopapular eruption (41.6%) and urticaria (37.5%), accompanied by
angioedema (8.3%), flushing (12.5%) and vomiting (8.3%). Nine skin
tests (with beta-lactam protocol in 6 patients) and 24 DPTs were
performed and none of the skin tests revealed a positive result, however
2 DPTs with TMP/SMX were positive.
Conclusion: Actual drug allergy was demonstrated in 2 of 219
patients (0.9%) with nonbeta-lactam antibiotics. These results conflict
with previous researches that showed higher drug allergy rates but were
consistent with some recent studies. Numerous and long-term use of
multiple drugs during management of cystic fibrosis may contribute to
tolerance development.